Microsoft Testing New Menu And Widgets In Windows 11

Microsoft is now testing various widgets and start menu display improvements for upcoming Windows 11 updates. There are also new ISO packages for all voluntary testers in the Insider program.

Windows Insider boss Amanda Langowski and Windows manager Brandon LeBlanc announced this in the blog and released the new build 25227. As always, the appropriate new ISOs are only available for registered Windows Insiders. They are available after logging in with a Microsoft account and enabling a clean install.

ISO with build number 25227

This means that the voluntary testers in the Windows Insider program now have the opportunity to freshly set up the latest preview version. You can get the new ISOs on a special download page, but you have to be registered in the Windows Insider program and logged in with your Microsoft account. The ISOs are available in different language packages.

What’s new in 25227?

The changes for the start menu and for the widgets are particularly interesting. Microsoft will initially only run a test with a limited number of users – it is, therefore, possible that the changes after the update to Build 25227 (10.0.25227.10000 rs_preview) will not be visible to all users immediately.

Microsoft Store update

Anyone who has been selected sees a small change in the start menu: a badge on the user profile shows whether certain actions need to be carried out. In addition, the Windows team is now testing different positions of the widget header with new icons for the widget board. A Microsoft Store update is also rolling out to all Windows Insiders, introducing pop-up trailers for games and movies.

The new build also launches update management improvements for IT admins and a number of general changes and improvements.